Capítulo II Construcción de la Investigación
4. Planteamiento del Problema de Investigación
SUGGESTED PROFESSIONAL HELP. NOT PERSONAL HELP IN DECIDING BETWEEN EXPENSIVE DINNERS AND FINE SCOTCHES.
CONNIE
I’M JUST GETTING A FREE DINNER AND SEE WHAT HE WANTS. HE’S LIKE TEN YEARS OLDER THAN ME. YOU CAN’T BE JEALOUS.
DOUG
I’LL BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU STOP HAVING DATES WITH HIM.
CONNIE
THIS IS NOT A DATE! WHAT’S GOTTEN INTO YOU? I’M NOT JUMPING SHIP. YOU KNOW A BARTENDER IS MY BEST
THERAPIST. CONNIE LAUGHS.
DOUG AND FOR HOW LONG?
CONNIE HOLD ON, PREACHER.
INT. BATHROOM STALL - MOMENTS LATER
CONNIE REMOVES A SMALL BAG OF COCAINE FROM HER PURSE. SHE STICKS A KEY INSIDE AND PICKS UP SOME COKE. SHE SNORTS IT. SHE DOES IT AGAIN. SHE LAUGHS.
INT. GALATOIRE’S DINING ROOM - NIGHT
GEORGE SITS AT A TABLE BY HIMSELF WEARING A SUIT. THE PLACE IS PACKED WITH PATRONS. TALKING AND LAUGHING CROWDS THE ROOM MORE. GEORGE LOOKS AT HIS WATCH. WAITER, 50’S, APPROACHES THE TABLE AND PLACES TWO MENUS DOWN.
WAITER
WOULD YOU LIKE A DRINK WHILE YOU WAIT, SIR?
GEORGE LOOKS AT HIS WATCH AGAIN. GEORGE
YEAH. YOU KNOW WHAT? I’LL TAKE A SAZERAC?
WAITER
WHAT TYPE OF WHISKEY, SIR? GEORGE
UH...WHAT’S THE BEST YOU HAVE? WAITER
GLENLIVET NADURA IS A GOOD SCOTCH WHISKEY.
GEORGE
GLENLIVET NADURA. PERFECT.
CONNIE ENTERS THE DINING ROOM. GEORGE STANDS AND WAVES. CONNIE WALKS BRISKLY TOWARDS HIM.
GEORGE (CONT’D) HELLO.
CONNIE
I’M SORRY I’M LATE. I’M NOT TOO LATE AM I?
GEORGE
I’LL CONSIDER IT WHAT THEY CALL, “FASHIONABLY LATE.”
CONNIE LAUGHS A BIT.
CONNIE YOU’RE SO STRANGE.
GEORGE
I ORDERED A DRINK. HAVE A SEAT. CONNIE SITS. GEORGE SITS.
CONNIE
IT’S GREAT TO BE HERE FINALLY. GEORGE
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO COME TO THIS RESTAURANT OR SITTING HERE WITH ME?
CONNIE
CHRIST, MAN. YOU ASK TOO MANY QUESTIONS.
GEORGE
I’M CURIOUS ABOUT YOU. WHAT KIND OF FAMILY DO YOU HAVE?
CONNIE
OKAY, I’M SICK OF THE PRYING INSIDE OF ME ALREADY. YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE YOUR LITTLE PSYCHO COVE.
WAITER BRINGS GEORGE’S DRINK. WAITER GOOD EVENING, MA'AM.
CONNIE
I’LL HAVE WHATEVER HE’S HAVING. THANK YOU.
WAITER
YES, MA’AM. FEEL FREE TO TRY OUR SPECIALS TONIGHT. FIRST, WE HAVE A LOBSTER BISQUE WITH A LIGHT RED SHERRY THAT BALANCES THE CREAM- BASED SOUP. THERE’S NO BITE TO--
CONNIE
WE HAVEN’T LOOKED AT MENUS YET, SO IF YOU JUST COME BACK. THANKS.
WAITER MY APOLOGIES, MA’AM. WAITER WALKS AWAY FROM THE TABLE.
GEORGE
WHY IS EVERYTHING A FIGHT WITH YOU? CONNIE
GEORGE, CAN WE TALK ABOUT A MOVIE YOU SAW OR A CAR YOU’RE GONNA GET OR SOMETHING? I THOUGHT THAT’S WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO.
GEORGE
IS THAT HOW PEOPLE GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER? AND I DON’T MEAN THAT IN A SARCASTIC--
CONNIE
ENOUGH WITH THE QUESTIONS! FOR FUCK’S SAKE! SAY SOMETHING ABOUT YOU.
GEORGE SIPS HIS DRINK.
GEORGE
I’M INTERESTED IN YOU. I LIKE YOU. I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU.
AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, I DON’T CARE WHAT KIND OF CAR YOU WANT OR WHAT KIND OF MOVIE YOU WATCHED.
GEORGE SIPS HIS DRINK. WAITER BRINGS CONNIE HER DRINK. WAITER
THERE’S YOUR SAZERAC, MA’AM. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WAITER WALKS AWAY. BUSBOY BRINGS BREAD AND BUTTER TO THE TABLE. CONNIE GUZZLES HER DRINK. BUSBOY LEAVES.
GEORGE
NOW, YOU STATE SOMETHING. BESIDES, “I AM DRUNK RIGHT NOW.”
CONNIE
YOU’RE AN ASSHOLE. THAT’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
GEORGE
I’M SORRY. I JUST STATE FACTS. CONNIE
WELL, YOU SEEM TO DISCONNECT THEM FROM PEOPLE’S FEELINGS.
CONNIE DRINKS HER DRINK. GEORGE
I DON’T WANT YOU TO BE ANGRY OR UPSET. CONSIDER MY AWKWARDNESS AS AN EXAMPLE OF MY ISOLATION FROM SOCIETY.
CONNIE
YEAH. ONE, DON’T POINT OUT TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY’RE DRUNK. TWO, TREAT A LADY WITH RESPECT. YOU SURE AS HELL DON’T ACT LIKE A SOUTHERN
GENTLEMAN.
GEORGE
CAN WE PLEASE KEEP THE REST OF THIS CIVIL?
CONNIE
THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN WONDERING. GEORGE SIPS HIS DRINK.
GEORGE
I LIKE THIS DRINK. I READ ABOUT IT IN A MAGAZINE. THEY DESCRIBED IT WELL AND SO I WILL DRINK IT WELL.
CONNIE DRINKS HER SAZERAC. CONNIE
HAVE YOU EVER MET A PERSON WHO GREW UP IN A FOSTER HOME?
GEORGE NO.
CONNIE
WELL, YOU HAVE NOW. I RAN AWAY FROM MY THIRD FOSTER HOME WHEN I WAS SIXTEEN. I DIDN’T FINISH HIGH SCHOOL AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT A FAMILY REUNION IS LIKE.
CONNIE FINISHES HER DRINK.
CONNIE (CONT’D)
WHERE’S THE WAITER? I’M READY TO ORDER.
CONNIE SCANS THE RESTAURANT. PATRONS WITH THEIR COATS, TIES, SLACKS, AND EVENING GOWNS ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME.
GEORGE
YOU HAVEN’T EVEN LOOKED AT THE MENU.
CONNIE
I CAN DECIDE IN TWO SECONDS. I ALSO DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE HAVE TO PONDER THINGS.
CONNIE (CONT’D)
ANOTHER DRINK AND THEN WE’LL BE READY TO ORDER.
GEORGE
SHE WILL NOT HAVE ANOTHER DRINK SINCE SHE SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED LONG BEFORE THE LAST ONE.
CONNIE
I CAN DO WHAT I GODDAMN WANT. FINISH YOURS AND GET ANOTHER.
WAITER BACKS UP A FEW STEPS AND BUMPS INTO A PATRON’S CHAIR AT ANOTHER TABLE.
WAITER (TO PATRON) EXCUSE ME.
CONNIE
MAYBE YOU’LL LOOSEN UP. GEORGE
NUMBER THREE, YOU SHOULD TREAT THE PERSON PAYING THE BILL WITH RESPECT.
CONNIE FUCK YOU.
CONNIE STANDS, BUT STUMBLES.
CONNIE (CONT’D)
I’LL GO UPSTAIRS TO THE BAR TO GET ANOTHER ONE.
WAITER
MA’AM, IF YOU COULD PLEASE EITHER SIT DOWN OR...
CONNIE OR WHAT?
CONNIE (CONT’D)
THEN I’LL LEAVE THE WHOLE GODDAMN BUILDING.
CONNIE RUSHES TOWARDS THE EXIT. GEORGE I’M SORRY, SIR. GEORGE STANDS.
EXT. BOURBON STREET - MOMENTS LATER
CONNIE RUSHES DOWN THE STREET. SHE PASSES PEOPLE. GEORGE RUNS AFTER HER.
GEORGE CONNIE!
CONNIE CONTINUES. GEORGE CATCHES UP WITH HER AND GRABS HER BY THE ARM.
GEORGE (CONT’D) CONNIE.
CONNIE RIPS HER ARM OUT OF HIS GRASP. CONNIE
GO BACK TO YOUR WAITER BUDDY IN THERE. I’M DONE.
GEORGE
THEN LET’S GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. I DON’T KNOW--
CONNIE
NO! I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE WITH YOU, GEORGE! YOU’RE A WEIRD, DORKY PRICK. AND GUESS WHAT? I’M MOVING TO NEW YORK ANYWAY. I’M LISTENING TO DOUG. NOT YOU. IT’S ABOUT
GODDAMN TIME. I DON’T NEED A FUCKING DOCTOR TO READ ME A TEXTBOOK. YOU’RE JUST ANOTHER OBSTACLE IN MY WAY!
DOUG AND WORK! AND MAYBE ONE DAY YOU WILL READ WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
CONNIE WALKS IN HASTE AWAY FROM GEORGE. GEORGE REMAINS STILL. HE HOLDS HIS HAND OVER HIS STOMACH. WAITER WALKS TO GEORGE.
WAITER
EXCUSE ME, SIR. YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND PAY FOR YOUR DRINKS. ARE YOU STILL GOING TO DINE WITH US? GEORGE DEEPLY EXHALES.
GEORGE
YE...YEAH. I’LL JUST BE BY MYSELF NOW.
GEORGE TURNS AROUND AND WALKS TOWARDS THE RESTAURANT. INT. THE ABSINTHE HOUSE BAR - LATE NIGHT
CONNIE SITS AT THE BAR SWAYING, DRINKING, AND SMOKING. GIRL 1, GIRL 2, GIRL 3, AND GIRL 4, ALL IN EARLY 20’S AND DRESSED NICELY, STAND NEAR CONNIE LAUGHING.
GIRL 1
WHAT YOU WANT, GIRL? GIRL 2
OH, UM...LET’S SEE. GIRL 3
WHAT DO DOCTORS DRINK? THEY LAUGH.
GIRL 2
I’M NOT ONE YET. NOT ANYTIME SOON. GIRL 4
YOU SHOULD AT LEAST START PREPPING. ON THE DOCTOR DRINKING THAT IS.
THEY LAUGH.
GIRL 1 (TO DOUG) EXCUSE ME. DOUG WALKS TO THE GIRLS.
GIRL 1 (CONT’D)
WHAT’S SOMETHING SPECIAL YOU CAN MAKE FOR MY FRIEND OVER HERE? GIRL 1 POINTS TO GIRL 2.
GIRL 1 (CONT’D)
SHE JUST GOT ACCEPTED INTO TULANE MED SCHOOL AND WE JUST LEFT HER CELEBRATION PARTY.
GIRL 4
BUT THAT PARTY ONLY HAD
CHAMPAGNE. GIVE HER SOMETHING TO KICK HER UP.
CONNIE
GIVE THIS TULANE SILVER SPOONED BITCH SOME EVERCLEAR. MAYBE SHE’LL PASS OUT AND WAKE UP LIKE THE REST OF US.
DOUG AND THE GIRLS LOOK AT CONNIE. CONNIE (CONT’D)
JUST A FUCKING SUGGESTION, LITTLE CHICKS.
DOUG CONNIE.
CONNIE DOUG.
CONNIE BLOWS SMOKE INTO THE GIRLS’ FACES. THEY WAVE SMOKE AWAY FROM THEIR FACES.
DOUG (TO THE GIRLS)
JUST DON’T WORRY ABOUT HER RIGHT NOW. BUT I’LL GET RIGHT ON IT. IT’S ONE OF MY OWN CONCOCTIONS.
GIRL 1
AND WE’LL TAKE THREE APPLETINIS. CONNIE LAUGHS LOUD. GIRLS LOOK AT HER.
CONNIE
THE FUCK YA’LL DOING AT THE ABSINTHE HOUSE? SHOULDN’T YA’LL BE ON SOME SORT OF YACHT CELEBRATING? TRUST FUND CUNTS.
DOUG (O.S.)
I CAN STILL HEAR YOU. AND IF YOU KEEP IT UP, YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE.
CONNIE
FUCK OFF, DOUG. I’M JUST...PESTERING THEM.
DOUG (O.S.)
AND YOU’RE PESTERING ME. STIFLE YOURSELF.
CONNIE